HEALTH & FITNESS

BY JOHN JACKLIN

GIRL POWER gives weight to women’s health

TWO fitness coaches who met on a kettlebell training course eight years ago have established a mission base to change the way women feel about exercise, strength and their bodies.
Natalie Higley, 43, from Caversham, and Nichola Stevens, 55, discovered a shared passion for helping women — and lifting heavy weights.
The pair spotted a gap in the fitness world triggered by Nat’s experiences with her weight and health, and Nicky’s with injury and menopause. They believed that there were no spaces dedicated to the needs of women, training styles and support for them.
And so the Strong Women’s Club in Church Street, Caversham, the site of the former offices of Nationwide Building Society, came into being in October 2022.
Nat and Nic say: “We wanted to create something different — a place where women felt empowered, supported, and genuinely excited about movement. Our mission has always been to change the way women feel about exercise, strength, and their bodies. Our space in the heart of Caversham is vibrant and so much more than a gym. It’s a community built by women, for women — a safe, welcoming environment where every member feels seen, supported, and appreciated.”

‘Beginners feel safe to start, and experienced lifters feel challenged to grow with no intimidation, no assumptions, and no judgment’

The partners offer one-to-one and four-to-one training sessions and a six-week foundation course is designed to support women who are unfamiliar with strength training.
“We grow stronger together — sharing knowledge, building confidence, and forming friendships along the way. Whether your goal is fitness, health, or simply connection, we’re here to help women become the strongest, healthiest, happiest version of themselves.”
They say: “Strong Women’s Club was created to give women a place where they feel at home in their training. Whether someone has never lifted before or has years of experience, they are welcomed with the same care, respect and support.
“Beginners feel safe to start, and experienced lifters feel challenged to grow with no intimidation, no assumptions, and no judgment.
“Being a women-only space isn’t about exclusion; it’s about meeting the needs of women with expertise. We have built an environment where women from all backgrounds, ages and religions can train feeling safe, comfortable, and understood.
“Members often tell us they feel like they can breathe, feel free to learn, play, try new movements and share their experiences without fear of judgment. We’re not a cold, black-box gym. Our space is warm, calm and intentionally designed by women for women. Women feel looked after from the moment they walk in. We train hard, but intelligently.
“Life does not stop at the gym door, we support women through work stress, family demands, health challenges, injuries and major life chapters. Meeting each woman exactly where she is and working with her to feel a sense of achievement.
“Our focus is long-term health: visceral fat, bone density, metabolic health, muscle mass, gut health and confidence. Strength helps life become more capable and empowering. And we believe you can begin strength training at any age.
“We’re a team of five highly-qualified female coaches, with expertise spanning GP referral (including high blood pressure, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, osteoporosis and lower back pain), strength training, Olympic lifting, menopausal exercise support, GLP-1 support, youth strength, yoga, kettlebells, suspension training and more. This helps us support women, meet their needs just as confidently as we support complete beginners.
“Our vision is simple: to help as many of women and girls discover their strength and feel empowered in their bodies at every stage of life.”

NAT’S STORY:
Nat used to work in finance before she retrained as a coach: “I’m a normal woman who fell in love with lifting weights and helping other women feel at home in their bodies. I wasn’t a sporty child. I left school at 15, became a young mum, and spent years battling body image issues, disordered eating, and the endless cycle of fad diets.
“In offshore finance and investments, I specialised in relationship management. I loved getting to know people and helping them find solutions, but after being made redundant and having my third child, I knew I didn’t want to spend my life behind a desk. Something had to change.
“My first steps into fitness were running and yoga. Running got me moving, but I never really loved it. Yoga gave me calm, balance and space to breathe, and I qualified as a hatha yoga teacher.
“But something still felt missing, and then I discovered strength training. Lifting weights lit me up in a way nothing else had. It gave me focus and taught me to celebrate progress instead of punishing myself.
“The first time I managed a push up and pull up I felt proud instead of ashamed, I had found my path.
“That was the moment I decided to change careers and retrain as a coach. I live with an underactive thyroid, polycystic ovary syndrome and early menopause. These conditions have challenged me, but they have also shown me how powerful muscle and strength really are for the body and mind.
“That lived experience drives my passion to help women discover what their bodies are capable of, no matter their starting point. I know exactly what it feels like to be a complete beginner, nervous, fearful and with zero knowledge, and that’s why I coach the way I do: with compassion, humour and patience.
“My fascination with the human body and how it responds to movement keeps me learning. I hold qualifications in advanced personal training, exercise referral for supporting clients with clinical conditions, instructing children’s fitness, kettlebells, circuits, suspension training, qualified level 3 hatha yoga instructor and nutrition coaching.
“My continued development includes hypopressive breath work level 1, coaching skills, squat and posture analysis, menopause and female health with Well HQ, Girls In Sport with Well HQ, Understanding GLP1 CPD and the David Grey Lower Body Rehabilitation Course.
“I’m committed to staying ahead of the curve and cutting through the noise of misinformation, so I can be a trusted, science-backed sounding board for the women I work with.
“Over the years, I’ve loved exploring movement personally in all sorts of ways, pole, acrobatics with silks and hoop, crossfit, bodybuilding competitions, photo shoots, climbing the national three peaks [Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon] and walking 100km in 24 hours for charity. But one thing has always stayed consistent: strength training.
“It’s the foundation that makes everything else easier, and it’s why I’ll never stop.”
Natalie is proud to say that at Strong Women’s Club: “I coach women who never felt like they belonged in fitness.”

NIC’S STORY:
“I’m mum to two gorgeous boys, a wife of 26 years, and a proud dog mum to our handsome Australian Labradoodle, Buddy. It’s definitely a sporty house. “I love cooking for family and friends, spending time by the sea, and curling up with a good book for some much-needed downtime, oh and strength training obviously.
“My journey into fitness began back in college, where I qualified as a gym and aerobics instructor in the 1980s – the Reebok high-tops and leg warmers era. Fitness was part of my health and beauty qualification, alongside sports massage.
“I worked in a gym while studying and instantly fell in love with the atmosphere and energy but eventually followed a career in beauty therapy for 30 years — always staying connected to movement through the gym and martial arts.
“At the age of 48, everything changed. After a hip injury, surgery, and a long rehabilitation, I lost confidence — physically and mentally. But that setback reignited my passion for fitness and inspired a career change.
“I retrained as a level 2 gym instructor, level 3 personal trainer, and have continued adding to my qualifications ever since. I became fascinated by the mechanics of the human body and how movement underpins every aspect of health and wellbeing.
“What drives me most now is helping other women overcome the fear of starting — especially those who feel nervous about stepping into a gym.
“The beginning of my physical training career was spent working in a prestigious spa and gym, putting my learning into practice and supporting men and women of all ages and all abilities.
“When I reached perimenopause, I experienced first-hand the physical and emotional challenges it can bring — fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, and low mood. Through education, lifestyle changes, and the right support, I found what worked for me. That experience inspired me to keep learning and to help other women navigate this stage of life.
“Lasting change comes from consistency, professional support, and a realistic approach that fits your lifestyle.
“I want women to take control of their fitness, move with confidence, and become their fittest, happiest, and strongest selves.”

strong-womens-club.com